Child & Teen Therapy in Pickering, ON
Growing steady hearts, even on windy days.
We help kids & teens (3–18) manage big feelings, build real-life coping tools, and feel proud of who they are. In-person child therapy in Pickering & online across Ontario.
When your child or teen is carrying more than they want to say
Children and teens are facing bigger pressures at younger ages than ever before. Whether it’s a little one who suddenly doesn’t want to go to school, a grade-schooler acting out or worrying nonstop, or a teen who seems withdrawn and “over it,” it’s hard to know how to help when they don’t have the words.
Those emotions can show up in many ways: shutdowns, irritability, school avoidance, staying in their room. Many hold it together all day, then crash at home. Stress can look physical too: headaches, stomachaches, changes in sleep or appetite. You can feel the heaviness, even if they can’t name it yet.
Through child and teen therapy, we slow things down and help them understand what their brain and body are doing. Then, we teach practical tools they can use in real moments—at school, with friends, and at home. Over time, those small shifts add up to more confidence, calm, and connection.
Thoughts your child or teen might be carrying:
- “How do I stop worrying all the time?”
- “How do I make friends or stop worrying what others think?”
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “Why can’t I control my feelings?”
- “I’m scared to be myself.”
In child & teen therapy, we help them soften the worry and grow with steadiness.
Therapy for Teens & Kids | Pickering, ON
What Therapy Can Do For Your Child or Teen
Life asks a lot of kids and teens right now.
Between school expectations, friendship dynamics, family changes, neurodivergent needs (ADHD or ASD), and the constant comparison of social media, it’s easy for your child or teen to feel overwhelmed or “not enough.” Sometimes, it’s hard to open up at home, and even harder for them to ask for help.
That’s where therapy can be the answer.
At Willow Tree Wellness & Psychotherapy, child & teen therapy gives them a warm, steady place to talk, play, and practice skills without pressure, judgement, or “you should just…” advice. Together, we work on understanding feelings, building coping tools, and trying strategies that make school, friends, and family life more manageable. We also offer parent consultations to help you understand how to support their progress at home.
Over time, worry softens, emotional regulation improves, and confidence grows. More “I can do this,” more ease at home and at school, more joy in life.
Child & Teen Counselling | Pickering, ON
What Does Child & Teen Therapy Help With?
Anxiety & Excessive Worry
Anxiety can make kids and teens feel stuck in their thoughts, tense in their bodies, or scared something bad might happen. In therapy, we teach practical calming tools and coping strategies so life feels lighter and they feel more in control.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
For children and teens with ADHD, therapy becomes a space to learn focus, organization, and emotional regulation in ways that feel natural, not forced.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Every child’s mind works in its own brilliant way. We use a blend of approaches to support communication, social connection, and daily transitions, helping them feel truly understood. We also offer SRS-2 screening to help families better understand their child’s social communication profile.
Grief & Loss
Loss can leave kids and teens feeling confused, scared, or alone. We help them talk, draw, and play through their grief, whether they’re coping with a death, facing anticipatory grief (like a loved one’s illness), or experiencing quieter forms of loss such as parental divorce, or miscarriage or suicide in the family. Together, we make space to remember, feel, and heal at their own pace.
Depression
When joy feels out of reach, child & teen therapy offers a steady light. We help children understand what’s happening inside and rebuild energy for the things that matter most.
Low Self-Esteem & Confidence
Many young people feel “I’m not enough.” We work to rewrite that inner story, teaching them how to recognize their strengths and celebrate small wins.
School Stress & Avoidance
When school feels like too much, we help uncover what’s beneath the resistance and build small, realistic steps back toward success and confidence.
Peer & Friendship Struggles
From friend drama to feeling left out, relationships can be tough terrain. We teach communication and boundary-setting, so friendships feel safer and more rewarding.
Perfectionism
Kids who set impossibly high standards often carry heavy worry underneath. We help them shift from “I have to do it right” to “I can do my best,” so mistakes become part of learning, not proof of failure.
Emotional Regulation & Anger Outbursts
Big feelings don’t mean bad behaviour; they mean a nervous system that’s overwhelmed. We teach kids how to name emotions, notice body cues, and choose calming strategies that actually work for them.
Like a willow, your child or teen can learn to bend without breaking.
Child & Teen Therapy | Pickering, ON
Tools & Modalities We Use in Child & Teen Therapy
We use results-based, kid-friendly approaches and weave them together based on your child or teen’s age, needs, and learning style. Your child or teen therapist may integrate:
We help kids and teens spot “thinking traps,” explore core beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” and practice more balanced thoughts and behaviours.
Using values- and strengths-based activities, we teach your child or teen to make room for big feelings while still doing what matters—school, family, and self-respect.
We use art, stories, games, role-play, and worksheets to give children language for their inner world when talking is hard.
Regular check-ins help you feel connected to the work we’re doing with your child. We honour their confidentiality while still giving you the tools, language, and resources you need to support them at home, so the progress they make in therapy can grow roots in everyday life.
Emotion regulation, mindfulness, and distress-tolerance tools for kids and teens who feel things deeply or go from 0 to 100 rapidly.
We separate your child or teen from the problem and help them tell a story that centres their strengths, not their struggles.
Meet Our Team
Match With a Child or Teen Therapist in Pickering, ON
At Willow Tree Wellness & Psychotherapy, our caring Pickering therapists support children and teens in-person & online. Together, we’ll create a welcoming, supportive environment where your child or teen can feel rooted, supported, and ready to grow.
Julia Falzarano
BHS, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
- Families
Emma Heywood
BSW, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
- Families
- Couples
Mariel Swadden
HBA, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
- Teens
- Adults
- 2SLGBTQ+
Mikayla Johnson
MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
- Children
- Teens
- Adults
- Families
Our Approach
How Our Child & Teen Therapy Works
1. Begin The Journey
We start with a parent consultation to understand your child or teen’s strengths, challenges, school or friendship stressors, and your hopes for therapy. When helpful, we use age-appropriate tools (like the GAD-7 or PHQ-9) so we can track progress over time.
2. Build Their Roots
Your child or teen meets with their therapist in a calm, playful space to talk, create, and practice coping tools. We use approaches like CBT and play-based therapy to help them name feelings, grow confidence, and handle big emotions.
3. Stay Connected as a Family
We check in with parents regularly to share themes, celebrate wins, and offer strategies you can use at home and school. This keeps everyone aligned and helps the progress in session last beyond the therapy room.
Child & Teen Therapy | Pickering, ON
Questions About Child & Teen Therapy
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If emotions, friendships, school, or confidence are starting to affect daily life, working with a child or teen therapist in Pickering can help your kid or teen feel calmer, more capable, and more connected again.
What if my teen doesn’t want to come to therapy?
We meet teens where they are, with respect, humour, and collaboration. Once trust is built with a Pickering teen therapist, they often start looking forward to child & teen therapy sessions. We encourage trying at least three sessions before deciding whether to continue. This promotes autonomy from the start and allows time for trust and therapeutic rapport to grow. In our experience, nine times out of ten, even the hesitant teen chooses to keep going.
Do parents join child or teen therapy sessions?
We begin with a parent consultation, followed by individual child & teen therapy sessions with your child or teen. Periodic family sessions or parent consult check-ins (every 4–12 sessions, depending on the youth) help ensure everyone feels supported and aligned. For younger children (typically under six), parents are often invited to stay in the room, even if that means quietly reading or working in a nearby corner, to help the child feel comfortable and secure.
What happens in a child therapy session?
Each child & teen therapy session is personalized to your child or teen’s needs and energy that day. We might talk, engage in directive play therapy activities rooted in CBT, draw, review a relevant story for psychoeducation, complete worksheets, or use creative tools to explore thoughts and feelings. Sessions balance skill-building with emotional reflection, helping kids understand themselves while practicing new coping strategies in a supportive, relaxed environment.
Do you see children with autism or ADHD?
Yes. Our child therapists in Pickering adapt therapy to each child’s learning style and sensory needs using strengths-based, compassionate approaches, including for kids with autism or ADHD.
Have other questions?
Child & Teen Therapy | Pickering, ON
The Difference Child & Teen Therapy Can Make
Starting therapy is a brave step for both you and your child or teen. With the right support and a space that feels supportive, small changes begin to take root. Over time, those roots grow stronger, helping them feel calmer, more capable, and more connected.
In time, you might start to notice your child or teen showing:
- A calmer body and mind with fewer stomachaches, headaches, or tension
- Improved emotional regulation with fewer meltdowns or shutdowns
- Increased confidence and self-worth, feeling “enough” and proud of small wins
- Better communication and connection with parents, teachers, and friends
- Stronger coping and problem-solving skills to handle change with more ease
Willow Tree Wellness & Psychotherapy—where little roots deepen and new growth begins.
Willow Tree Wellness & Psychotherapy
How To Get Started
Even if life has been windy, you can grow steady again. Here’s how to begin:
Book online to schedule your free 20-minute consultation or a full therapy session, whichever feels right for you.
Have questions? Email or call us anytime, we’re happy to help you find the right fit.
Prefer a quick form? Share a few details below and we’ll get back to you shortly.
We’re based in Pickering and proudly serve the surrounding communities of Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Scarborough, and Toronto, with virtual therapy available anywhere in Ontario.
